IAW FM 7-22, is PRT the required warm up for the APFT? If so, is an APFT valid if the preparatory drill is not performed prior to starting?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 08:59:57 -0400

I noticed that in FM 7-22 that it only states that the sequence of events is Pushups, Situps, and 2 Mile Run; each event has a minimum recovery time of 10 mins, and max of 20 mins. It does not state anything about PRT before or after the APFT; however every Army course I’ve taken it has been required to do the Prep Drill before the APFT. Could someone clarify this IAW FM 7-22? Thank you!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2017 9:39 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 09:39:40 -0400

The FM states that PRT should be done 5 days a week and that the APFT is best conducted on a Monday to ensure adequate recovery and performance. The appendix that covers the actual APFT states that soldiers shouldn't be tested when fatigued or ill. There is nothing about mandatory warm up/cool down.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 8 at 2017 10:15 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 10:15:48 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member If I squint and read into what FM 7-22 does say, I can see how a unit leader MIGHT come to an opinion PRT preparation drills are part of the APFT... As I went though the army Master Fitness program some many years prior to PRT coming on line, its also very possible this same thing is being taught at MFT school..

IF a unit leader read the FM and took the verbiage of "preparation" to reference the PRT prep drills found in chap 8 titled "preparation and recovery" then that leader might feel chap A1 APFT stating "Test instructions for the push-up, sit-up, and 2-mile run (or approved alternate aerobic event) are read prior to conducting preparation. After preparation is completed, the push-up event will begin. "

Was requiring the PRT prep drills to be conducted prior to the start of the PU event.
BUT no place in chap 8 prep and recover does it mention in any way APFT, either directly (These drills will be done prior to conduct of APFT) nor indirectly (These drills may be should prior to any PRT event, strength training, conditioning, APFT, Ect)

Further supporting that the verbiage in chap A1 using the word "preperation" is in reference to the Prep drills found in chap 8.
Chap A1 also states " Upon completion of all events, recovery will be conducted "
Again, the word recovery is found in chap 8 referencing Prep and recovery drills.

So as the Test set up does not state it clearly, I can see how one might take the verbiage and say it implies it.

If you really want to know for sure, send an email off to the MFT school house and ask.
Ask if they are teaching PRT prep drills ARE done prior to the push up event?
Ask if the intent of the FM verbiage (cited above) was to implied PRT prep drills may, should, are to be conducted prior to the PU event?

Bottom line, SM should prepare them selfs by warming up and then stretching prior to the start of the first APFT event, and the Prep drills in Chap 8 are appropriate for that task.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2017 11:51 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 11:51:15 -0400

Remember a Field Manual (FM) is not regulation and thus non-binding. The Army Regulation that covers PRT and the APFT is AR 350-1, para. G-9. Preparation and recovery drills are not a mandatory part of the APFT. The only mandatory parts of an APFT are the pushups, sit-ups, aerobic event, and the weigh in. You can be excused from the pushups and sit-ups if you have a permanent profile. Every Soldier must take at one of the aerobic events for a record APFT. You cannot take a record APFT on a temporary profile. I know regulation says that you can't take a record APFT on a temporary profile less than 90 days, but if you look into the AR covering profiles you will see that no temporary profile is supposed to go past 90 days. I hope this helps. If I am wrong, please let me know so i can start running my APFTs correctly. I do give time for my Soldiers to stretch on their own for an APFT. I have them do it while I read the instructions for the APFT and the APFT events.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2017 1:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 13:19:49 -0400

BLUF: Per FM 7-22, PRT Preparation and Recovery Drills are part of administering the APFT, due to FM 7-22 seeming to ambiguously state so. However, they are not listed as an invalidating factor if skipped; unlike the APFT exceeding 2-hours from start to finish. Ultimately, as with anything in the Army, Soldier's do what their rank can handle, or what their Commander/CSM doesn't care about. I'm sure some units don't even do basic PRT, or maybe skip the Prep and Recovery Drills, and if their Commanders/CSMs don't enforce it, then the Regulations really don't matter. See references below.

Preparation and Recovery are mentioned in conjunction with the APFT at least five times throughout FM 7-22. The terms "Preparation" and "Recovery" are first defined in Para 5-18, 5-19, 5-20, and 5-21, Chapter 5, as PRT Session Elements (categories). Throughout the rest of FM 7-22, they will either reference to them as Preparation, Preparation Drill (PD), Recovery, or Recovery Drill (RD). the PD is a series of exercises within the Preparation Element. Similarly, RD is a series of exercises within the Recovery Element, although their are more authorized Recovery options following a run. To better understand the intent of FM 7-22 pertaining to your question, read the following sub-paragraphs in listed order, along with accompanying sub-bullets:

5-18
5-19
5-20
5-21
8-19
A-10
A-18
A-33
A-8 (I put this out of order, because it is the Commander's Catch-All that can negate the regulation)

Pertaining to this part of your question: "It does not state anything about PRT before or after the APFT; however every Army course I’ve taken it has been required to do the Prep Drill before the APFT."

See Table 5-10, Table 5-11, and Table 5-12; they show example PRT schedules. On APFT days, they list PD first, then APFT, followed by RD. Everything I've mentioned, is why places like TRADOC and probably NCOES do things exactly by the book; because the CSMs probably require them to.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 8 at 2017 2:15 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 14:15:30 -0400

Forgive my frankness! It sounds as if you are very intelligent and astute at research, not to mention a CPL. I am unsure of your motive, did you (or a fellow Soldier) fail and are looking for an excuse? Bottom line is that their is personal responsibility associated with all requirements in the military, if you are aware of a mis-step in an organizational process it is contingent upon you to voice your issue so that the unit can correct its failure. In this case personal responsibility alos measn that yoi shpuld be warming up before the event and between events. If I mis-read your intentions then the response stands for what should happen. Thank you for your service.